Music

“Jazz Re-visit” comprises three nights of guided concerts presented by five local jazz groups, with performances led by acclaimed pianist Ted Lo and his band as well as Tjoe & NTBM, Mo-Men-T, Alan Kwan Quartet and maRK. They will lead the audience on a musical trip back in time to some of the most significant moments in the history of jazz.

Ready to travel back in time?

Legendary jazz musicians possessed the qualities and visions to react and make impact to the world, despite being in different cultures and historical periods. Jazz is a true art form and an invaluable asset of human culture. As a jazz musician from Hong Kong who had the privilege to perform and study at the homeland of this music with some of the legends, I would like to be a storyteller to introduce you to this fascinating world.

Teriver Cheung, curator of “Jazz Re-visit”

2018-4-20
Theme: Bebop

In the early 1940s, the idea of a “jam session” started to become more popular among musicians, and they became very well-known at Minton’s Playhouse. This was the beginning of Bebop and the birth of modern jazz. Pioneers like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk would jam at jazz bars and observe each other’s performances, pushing the music towards a more complex melodic language and phrasing,fast-moving advanced harmony and burning up-tempos with syncopated comping rhythm.

Theme: Hard Bop

Extending from Bebop, from the mid 1950s there was a trend towards a more soulful approach to jazz music, which became categorised as “Hard Bop”. The music featured more singable melodies and danceable rhythms, and incorporated musical elements which were more popular at that time, such as rhythm and blues. “The Jazz Messengers” led by drummer Art Blakey was one of the most notable groups, with other important musicians including Horace Silver, Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley and so on.